Show 20 of 1460 more recent messages
Bob Dz.
June 14, 2007 17:00:38 (EDT) |
I currently own a Bradley that was supposedly used in the parades at Benson's. It was orange with zebra fur interior, so the story sounds correct, however I have never been able to verify it. I can not find any pictures of the car in any parades at Benson's. Does anyone have pictures and/or knowledge of this car?Thanks.
see how it looks now? when was this taken ,are there any structures still up? like the old womens shoe? i remember seeing pictures of my mother in front of that shoe.
My 1/2 brother Arthur Provencher was the last owner of Benson's. We had the same father Geoffray Provencher. I never met Arthur, I wanted to meet him. I tried to look into going to Benson's but it was closed before I could get there. Still cannot locate Arthur, maybe someday. It's funny my father used to bring us to Benson's when we were young, then his son ends up owning it, How wierd.Tina N. Provencher Lomas
Angela
May 13, 2007 12:15:40 (EDT) |
I was just wondering where i could find a map of what bensons looked like in its hay day? And where all the rides/buildings were. If someone could email please i would greatly appreciate it.my email is blackned_wings@yahoo.com
Two of the elephants from Benson's are now at the "Elephant Sancuary" in Tennessee. They seem to be doing very well and enjoying their retirement. Their names are Liz and Queenie. Check out their photos and bios at www.elephants.com. This seems like a great retirement home.OK, who remembers standing in line at the DAIRY QUEEN? My mom owned it.
Also does anyone have a recipe for the fried clams that they served at the Meadows? Boy they were great.
Mac
April 26, 2007 23:54:13 (EDT) |
I have many found memories of Benson's. I went there ate least once a year throughout my childhood. I remember so many things. Some of the highlights... The poop throwing apes. The nursery rhyme statues that used to creep me out when I was small. The elephant shows. The tree maze.I still drive by the Benson's property everyday during my commute to work. I often wonder what it looks like in there now. I've been tempted to ignore the signs and sneak in to look around the place. I've even considered volunteering on one of the work days they've held.
It was indeed a wonderful place for families.
Mac
April 26, 2007 23:46:17 (EDT) |
I recently heard that 3 of elephants are still alive. One is in a zoo and the other two are in an elephant "sanctuary"
i wish i could go back in time and do it all over again,
i miss that place, i am now 30 years old and have a little boy who i would love to bring to Bensons, but now it is no longer there.
i rember when it 1st closed my mom would drive buy and i would tell her mom can we go today!
she tried to tell me that the zoo was not there any more. i told her it was i can see the house the animal lived in,
but as i got older it sank in that the zoo is not there any more, i so wish that some thing could be done to open a place like that again, i miss it so very much
me and my husben drove buy the other day i wanted to cry all that land once was filled with, love-friends-family and things to do, now it looks like kids have turnd it upside down, it should be kept up so people like me can vist the plase they miss the most as a little kid!!
thank you 4 you time "Benson's is miss in my heart very much"
Linda
April 7, 2007 14:39:41 (EDT) |
Collosus the Gorilla (AKA Collosus Benson). Was living in the Cincinnati Zoo since 1993, after spending some time at a Florida zoo. He died April 11, 2006, at age 40, while under anesthesia during dental work.
Steve
March 31, 2007 12:51:10 (EDT) |
I've been reading some of the questions posted here and have some answers. The only animal still surviving from the farm that I know of is Collosus the Gorilla who now resides in The Cincinnati Zoo. His cage still stands on the property.Access to the property is up in the air. I've been there a number of times and took pictures but a town official e-mailed me to tell me it was off limits (the e-mail exchange is posted). As far as official notification, there's only "No motorized vehicles" signs posted.
It's not posted as no trespassing so legally you couldn't get charged for that. They may just ask you to leave. I've never had a problem, though. There is a Benson's Comittee in Hudson and maybe they could grant "permission" if you wanted to go that route.
As far as old photo's and history, I just picked up an out-of-print book called "Remembering Benson's Wild Animal Farm" by Bob Goldsack. It cost me $42 but has over 100 pictures from each era. By far the best resource I've come across. I got it through Border's books in Nashua.
I am a distant relative of John T and barely remember going to see him at Benson's Animal Farm when I was probably only about three or four. I remember seeing and touching an elephant and playing with some lion or tiger cubs. In later years, our parents took my brother and I to Hudson several times, but they said that with new owners it wasn't the same. Of course, that might have meant that they now had to pay an entry fee.My wife and I along with our grandchildren have been surfing to find out more about the history of the John T's legacy and we're delighted to have found this web site.
I came here with my family when I was young.It is ashame that they closed down.I remember riding an elephant and sitting on a turtle while I was there.It was the best time I had.
Joanne
March 29, 2007 20:00:41 (EDT) |
I used to go to Benson's as a kid before they closed. Are there any of the buildings still on the property? Anyway to get onto the property to take some photographs of the old buildings for a photo class?
A friend just sent me this ebay link to a very old item from Bensons. There are also some items for sale on ebay express. Didn't know if anyone might be interested.http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=320097466421&ssPageName=ADME:B:EF:US:11
Jonh T. was my Great Uncle and that he was. I was going through some of the memorabilia that I treaure regarding Jon T. and the farm. Just for fun I thought I would see if there was anything about the Animal Farm and was greatly surprised and excited to find this site as well as others concerning a place I know so well. I was born the year the farm opened in 1924 so I grew up with it as it grew. my uncles health in the forties and the war took its toll on the place I loved so much when he died while I was in the service in 1943. The bank foreclosed. No one in the family--except me and only 18 years old--so the bank sold it to Brown and his associates of the Boston Garden's. The saddness for me was all the many scrapbooks of news clippings and other mementos John kept and had been left to me were all part of the sale. I loved laying on his den floor reading through what in reality was the history of John T and Benson's Wild Animal Farm. Who has all that valuable material now I have no knowledge.My wife and I attended the auction when the Wild Animal Park closed. I was successful in buying the original Metal Benson Wild Animal Farm sign that hung I believe at the main entrance of the farm. I would make it available to the Hudson Group that started a Benson Museum for half of what I paid for it but at the time they lacked funds and I lost track of those who had been in touch with me
I am amazed at the comments and interest and fond memories so many have taken the time to post on this site. I plan to read them all. Thank you for keeping a great man's memory alive as well as the animal farm--his life
Tom Benson
K M
March 21, 2007 14:58:02 (EDT) |
Great site! Brings back many memories. It is sad to see the "how it looks now" photos :(
Came across some old slides (pics) my dad took when I was young. I am guessing I am probably around four or five at the time, which would make it around 1960-61. Remember the fire truck ride?
KMC
March 18, 2007 23:16:40 (EDT) |
My father sold a Ringling Brothers hand-made miniature circus to Bensen's a year or so before they closed. I'm trying to locate it.
M.H.
March 14, 2007 20:15:51 (EDT) |
I should have said "modern" plywood. Modern plywood was a product developed during World War II, and specifically due of the war--wars always accelerate development. If you come across early plywood, almost all of it is waffled and cracked, merely from age. It was mostly an adhesives problem (the war also accelerated the development of plastic). At any rate, the sign has been removed from ebay and the seller is now listed as "no longer registered," which is a bit suspicious. The bidding on this item was also suspicious: The seller had zero feedback and the majority of the bidders--there were a total of 9 when the auction was shut down--had zero feedback.
For what it's worth, the sign can not be 1930's as stated in the auction. At least not the Gorilla portion, for it's obviously made of plywood. Plywood did not exist until WWII, and was not commercially available until after the War. The sign is probably 1950's. It is a great sign regardless.
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